Political Quotes

“I just learned yesterday that a bill was hastily prepared 2 nights ago by the staff of the Committee on Ways and Means and without the opportunity to seek comments and testimonies, even to appear before the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade, the bill was marked up in full committee this morning. The bill passed today by a vote of 23 to 17, rejecting my good friend's, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), amendment that would have literally saved the U.S. tuna industry. I wanted to thank my good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) for his eloquent remarks, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson) for his support, and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for his support. I especially want to note, the precious vote that also was received by my good friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) for his support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope the great spirit will enlighten my colleagues of the House, especially if this bill, H.R. 3009, the Andean Trade Preference Act, if this bill passes by not excluding tuna as a duty-free import from Andean countries, it will essentially mean the loss of some 10,000 jobs to tuna cannery workers in California, Puerto Rico, and my district of American Samoa.”